Precious moves from software engineering mining

Shift boss, Precious Nkosi

Precious Nkosi’s potential was recognised at Kangra within a remarkably short period. Despite joining in July, she was quickly promoted from miner to shift boss, a position she had occupied at her previous company. “When someone sees potential in you, it’s a significant confidence boost,” she remarks. With a team of 11 people, Precious’s duties as a shift boss for the outby areas entail building and maintaining roads, handling ventilation, building walls and water reticulation, which involves pumping water from underground to the outside areas.

After matriculating in 2000, she pursued a diploma in IT, specialising in software engineering. In 2008, while exploring job opportunities, she stumbled upon an advertisement for general work at a mine. “That’s how I got into mining. I started as a belt sweeper at the mine, then earned a blasting certificate,” she recalls. In 2011, she found another opportunity to embark on a mining learnership in Witbank and attended the Colliery Training College.

The following year, she became a fully qualified miner, eventually progressing to the role of shift boss and then outby shift boss. “My IT career took a backseat. I’m a mining lady now,” she says. Precious is also an active member of Kangra’s Women in Mining committee, a platform she uses to inspire and empower women. Her goal is to become a safety manager. “I’m very passionate about safety, and I’m planning to undertake several safety courses,” Precious concludes.